Help Raven Build A Wildlife Area

Pheasants Forever, a Minnesota-based national conservation group, is enlisting the help of Minnesota's most famous dog, Raven, to support its Build A Wildlife Area campaign.

"We're pleased to welcome Raven to the Build A Wildlife Area partnership," said Joe Duggan, vice president of corporate relations and marketing for Pheasants Forever. "Raven's role in the Build A Wildlife Area campaign will be to raise awareness about the need to acquire critical wildlife habitat that eventually becomes a new public wildlife area."

Since 2003, the campaign has raised more than $500,000 to preserve more than 700 acres of wildlife habitat in the state. The dollars include matching grants from state and federal wildlife programs.

Duggan said the Build A Wildlife Area concept was launched by Pheasants Forever in cooperation with Outdoor News, Game Fair and Gander Mountain.

Raven is featured in a campaign to solicit charitable contributions for the non-profit wildlife habitat fund. Contributors of $20 or more will receive a new plush "Raven" puppy complete with the famed red bandanna. The plush pups are available at a variety of outlets, including Minnesota Gander Mountain stores, the Minnesota State Fair and online.

Ron, who is Raven's television sidekick, said the idea of preserving wildlife habitat is a natural fit for Raven "because she is a bird dog and without the right habitat there'd be no gamebirds."